Raising the visibility of Bhutanese films in the international platform, a Bhutanese film, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom has been shortlisted in the International Feature Film Category for the 2022 Oscars. Film director, Pawo Choyning Dorji, shared the news on his Facebook page earlier today. Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the film industry and is regarded as the most prestigious awards in the entertainment industry.
Now, the Academy’s selection committee will vote for the five best films from the 15 shortlisted. And the final five will advance for the Best International feature Film Nomination for the 94th Academy Awards.
Lunana: A Yak in the classroom is the second Oscar entry from Bhutan since The Cup by Khyentse Rinpoche in 1999. Competing against films from all around the world to be shortlisted with other 14 films, Pawo said it is a surreal experience.
“Just Being accepted by the Academy as an official entry to represent your country on the stage, that itself is such a big honour. So, when the Academy accepted us as Bhutan’s official entry, I was already very grateful, honoured and humbled by that and when I saw the list of 94 of the world’s greatest films, each representing its own people, its own culture, its own country, I looked at it and I thought there is absolutely no way we will make it to the last 15,” said Pawo Choyning Dorji, a writer and director.
Shot on the location at more than 16,000 feet above the sea level, the movie was filmed with actual local children and villagers in one of the most remote villages in the country using solar-powered batteries and limited practical filmmaking resources.
It took three months for the shooting of the movie to be complete. The film is about a young aspiring singer Ugyen who by profession is a teacher and he dreams to relocate himself in Australia. However, he is sent to Lunana for his final year of training.
“This movie touches upon a basic human quality and that is seeking where you belong, seeking happiness, seeking home and I feel within this diversity, this common element of humanity has reached across different audiences,” said Pawo.
Last year, the film was selected to represent Bhutan to compete for nominations at the 2021 Oscars. But The Academy Awards did not accept the movie because they did not recognize Bhutan’s selection committee as the country had not submitted a film since 1999.
“Because it was that long, we didn’t have a recognized committee. So, last year, even though we were Bhutan’s entry, the Academy couldn’t accept us. But this year because of the hard work of Ministry of Information and Communications, the National Film Commission, we were officially accepted and now we have made it to the shortlist,” said Pawo.
So far, the 2019 film has won 18 international awards in the US, England, Wales, France and South Korea among others.
The 94th Academy Awards will be held in March next year in Los Angeles. The nominations will be announced in February next year.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Sonam Pem
